(a)  The purpose of this chapter is to implement the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA) (see now 49 U.S.C. § 31101 et seq.), as may be amended from time to time and reduce or prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries by:

(1)  Permitting drivers to hold only one license;

(2)  Disqualifying commercial drivers who have committed certain serious traffic violations, or other specified offenses;

(3)  Strengthening commercial driver licensing and testing standards.

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(b)  It is the intent of this chapter to have an operator’s license serve as the base license to which classifications, endorsements, and restrictions can be added which may change the classification to a commercial or chauffeur’s license. If the person commits any offense which results in a withdrawal of the commercial license or privilege under this chapter and the offense would be cause for withdrawal of the base license or privilege, the department shall withdraw the commercial endorsements, restrictions, or classifications and for the required fee(s) issue an operator’s license or privilege.

(c)  If any offense would cause withdrawal of the base license and commercial or chauffeur’s license but for different terms that person may be restored to the base license after the time specified in the applicable section(s) within this title upon payment of the required fee(s). If an offense is committed which, except for this chapter, causes a license or privilege withdrawal of a base license, it shall be cause for removing the commercial or chauffeur classification(s), restriction(s), and endorsement(s) or privileges to operate a commercial vehicle for the time specified in this title.

(d)  This chapter is a remedial law which shall be liberally construed to promote the public health, safety, and welfare. To the extent that this chapter conflicts with general driver licensing provisions, this chapter shall prevail. Where this chapter is silent, the general driver licensing provisions shall apply. This chapter applies to every person who operates a commercial motor vehicle in interstate, foreign, or intrastate commerce and to all employers of these persons.